Jacob "Howling Wilderness" Smith-- Part 4: The Belangiga Massacre

Because of his bravery in Cuba during the Spanish-American War, Smith was promoted to the rank of brigadier general by Philippine's  governor William Howard Taft. It was with the thought that Smith would then retire, but that didn't happen.  Smith remained in the Army.

In 1899, Smith boasted to reporters that  he was going to use Indian tactics against the Filipino insurgents and would be really harsh with them.  Then, there was a situation in Luzon where Smith's actions angered the locals.

But, by far the worse thing that happened was the Belangiga Massacre where 51 American soldiers of Company  C of the 9th U.S. Infantry were killed.  This provoked shock and anger in the United States and newspapers called for reprisal.  Military governor of the Philippines, Major General Adna R. Chafee, received orders from President Teddy Roosevelt to pacify the island of Samar where it happened.

He appointed Jacob Smith to do this.  This proved to be a mistake.

And Then It All Happened.  --DaCoot